Debate: Disinformation as a Means of Survival—The Iranian Example

On Thursday, March 28, 2024, a conference was held in Paris—organized at the initiative of the Foundation for Middle East Studies (FEMO)—focusing on disinformation as a survival strategy employed by the Iranian regime.

The conference opened with a welcome address by the Mayor of the 15th Arrondissement of Paris, Mr. Philippe Goujon, who welcomed FEMO and underscored the revulsion provoked by the regime's repression of the Iranian people.

"For 45 years now, Iran has suffered under a mullahs' regime that appears to be a relic of the Middle Ages confronting the 21st century. I believe this is an apt description of the reality facing the opposition to this regime—a regime founded by Ayatollah Khomeini, whom I quote here as 'the thief of the people's revolution,' as his opponents have dubbed him—an opposition that, day in and day out, is subjected to torture, oppression, imprisonment, and execution."

FEMO President Mr. Jean-François Legaret—former Mayor of the 1st Arrondissement of Paris—then paid tribute to the late President François Colcombet and explained the rationale behind this conference:

"I also wished to pay tribute to François Colcombet, the first president of FEMO—a man of profound conscience who championed our cause with fierce determination. I wish, in any case, to express my deepest respect and homage to this distinguished figure. We are not gathered here to hold political rallies; rather, we are here to engage in collective reflection and to propose solutions. And among the issues that demand our attention is the fact that, amidst the intense current events dominating the headlines—the war in Ukraine and Russia, the conflict between Israel and Palestine—we are facing threats of war. As the President of the French Republic himself stated just a few days ago: 'We are at war.'"

During this conference, distinguished experts took the floor to dismantle the entire disinformation apparatus deployed by the Iranian regime against its opposition.

Ms. Sara Nouri, a lawyer admitted to the Paris Bar, moderated the conference and explained in her opening remarks:

"One must clearly understand that the four-decade history of the mullahs' regime is, in effect, a history of disinformation in its various dimensions. In fact, the Iranian regime employs three primary foreign policy tools: disinformation, terrorism, and hostage-taking. Disinformation—or the dissemination of false information—and its use by totalitarian regimes to advance political objectives, particularly against their opponents, is nothing new."

Ms. Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian presidential candidate, spoke regarding the networks of experts infiltrated by—and subservient to—Iran:

"We must consider this within the broader context of current global events. Iran has implemented a strategy of conquest—not merely territorial, but also a 'mental' conquest of public opinion—in order to defend its interests. It is a nation with territorial ambitions for dominance, and it possesses vast financial resources. There is oil, obviously. I believe it is noteworthy that other autocratic regimes around the world—which share this same financial power derived from oil (I am referring to Russia and Venezuela)—have emulated, and continue to emulate, Iran's methods."

Mr. Jean-Pierre Brard, an honorary Member of Parliament and co-founder of the French Commitee for a Democratic Iran (CFID), addressed the harassment—perpetrated by these networks—against MPs who stand in defense of the Iranian people:

"As for attempts at infiltration by intelligence services—if you read *The Art of War* by the famous Chinese strategist, you will see that as far back as 2,500 years ago, such tactics were already being employed to weaken an adversary. Naturally, however, these methods are constantly being reinvented." Personally, I was very close to the former German Democratic Republic, and so I followed the Günter Guillaume affair closely—an episode that serves as a reminder of certain things, of a time when the GDR's intelligence services managed to infiltrate as high up as Willy Brandt.

Mr. Gérard Vespierre, founder of *Le Monde décrypté* and Associate Researcher at FEMO, on the manipulation of figures—manipulations that speak volumes about the absence of a genuine election in Iran:

"The theme of disinformation that brings us together today—this evening—begins with the theft of words. Our words are being stolen from us. An election rests fundamentally upon the rule of law. If there is no rule of law in a country, there can be no elections. There may be ballots cast; there may be all manner of other operations; but there cannot be elections."

Ms. Sara Nouri, attorney at the Paris Bar, on the instrumentalization of the justice system for the purpose of manipulating foreign states:

"For my part, I will address a slightly more legal aspect of disinformation: the Iranian regime's judicial charade, which serves as a foundation for its strategic plans. For, in fact, on July 29, 2023, the Tehran Criminal Court issued a public announcement revealing the identities of 104 individuals associated with the main opposition movement."

FEMO President Mr. Jean-François Legaret concluded the conference:

"There have been several historical layers to this organized and scientifically orchestrated bluff. First, there was the nuclear deal—that is true. And unfortunately, a number of officials and heads of state allowed themselves to be misled. Indeed, President Macron himself made remarks regarding this nuclear deal that I would characterize as imprudent."